tched closely, as Dick obeyed.

"Sit down, Prescott, and draw the trousers leg off on that side.
I want to examine the knee."

While Mr. Morton went to work the other members of the team crowded
about, anxiety written on all their faces.

"Does it hurt more when I press?" asked the submaster keenly.
"Ah, I thought so! Prescott, you're not badly hurt for anything
else; but your knee is in no shape to play this afternoon!"

A wail of dismay went up from the team members. The rueful look
in Dick's face deepened.

"I was afraid you'd bar me out," he confessed. "I never felt
so ashamed in my life."

"It wouldn't be of any use for you to play, for that knee wouldn't
stand it in any rough smash," declared the coach, shaking his
head solemnly.

"It's all off with us, then," groaned one of the fellows. "We may
as well ask Hallam if they'll allow us to hand 'em a score of six
to nothing on a platter, and then stay off the field."

"Hush your croaking, will you?" demanded Dave Darrin angrily,
glaring about him. "Is that the Gridley way? Do we ever admit
defeat? Whoever croaks had better quit the team altogether."

Under that rebuke the boy who had ventured the opinion shrank
back abashed.

"You're sure I'll be in no shape to go on, Coach?" asked Dick
anxiously.

"Why, of course you could go on," replied Mr. Morton. "And you
could run about some, too, unless your knee got a good deal stiffer.
But you wouldn't be up to Gridley form."

"Have I any right to go on, with a knee in this shape?" queried
Dick.

"You certainly haven't," replied Mr. Morton, with great emphasis.

"Dave," called the young football chief, "you're second captain
of the team. Get in and get busy. Put up the best fight you
can for old Gridley!"

"Aye, that I will," retorted Dave Darrin, his eyes sparkling,
cheeks glowing. "I'll go in like a pirate chief, and I'll break
the neck of any Gridley man who doesn't do all there is in him
this afternoon."

"Listen to the fire eater," laughed Fenton. Dave grinned
good-humoredly, but went insistently:

"All right. If any of you fellows think I take less than the
best you can possibly do, try it out with me."

Then Darrin came over to rest a hand on Prescott's shoulder.

"Dick, you'll give me any orders you have before we go on, and
between the halves, won't you?"

"Not a word," replied Dick promptly. "Dave, you can lead as well
as ever I have done. If you're going to be captain t